NSW Uber driver charged with sexually assaulting girl, 17

FILE PHOTO: An Uber logo is seen on a car as it car drives through Times Square in New York City, New York, U.S., July 27, 2018.
Reuters/Mike Segar/File Photo

An Uber driver has been charged with the sexual assault of a teenager in Bondi. The 37-year-old man allegedly raped the 17-year-old in his car after dropping two of her companions off early Sunday morning.

According to the New South Wales Police, the man collected three passengers who booked his services about 1:30 a.m. on Sunday. He drove the trip to Bondi, where two of them got out. The teen remained in the vehicle, thinking she would be taken to an address at North Bondi.

However, the man allegedly sexually assaulted her instead in his vehicle. The assault was reported at Eastern Suburbs Police Area Command where an investigation was commenced.

On Monday about 4;2- p.m., the man was arrested at an address in Liverpool. He was taken to Liverpool Police Station, where he was charged with sexual intercourse without consent. He was granted conditional bail, with one of the conditions being he wouldn’t work as a ride-sharing driver.

He is set to face court on Oct. 25.

The police statement did not mention the company the man was driving for, but Uber reacted to the man’s arrest on Tuesday, saying it has suspended the driver.

“This is deeply upsetting and has no place anywhere. As soon as we became aware of this report, we immediately removed this driver’s access to the app,” a statement from Uber Australia reads. “We are working closely with the New South Wales Police Force and will continue to support their investigation in any way possible.”

This isn’t the first time a driver from the ride-sharing app has been accused of sexual assault. In June, an Uber driver was charged in sexual assault after allegedly attacking a woman in January. The 31-year-old man from Armadale was charged with sexual penetration without consent and two counts of indecent assault.